In Play with Tom Markowski

Football

Top 10 Games: Bedford to face Saline in SEC showdown

BY: TOM MARKOWSKI Sep 15, 9:00pm

Temperance – Coach Jeff Wood might have got away with one last week.

Temperance Bedford trailed Ann Arbor Pioneer 14-6 in regulation and 21-14 in overtime before coming back to win, 22-21, on Gabe Caris’ conversion reception from quarterback Joey Wiemer. Bedford missed an extra point try after its first touchdown and had a field goal attempt blocked and returned for a touchdown that gave Pioneer a 14-6 and Wood decided to go for the win rather than risk another kick.

This week the Kicking Mules travel north on US 23 to Saline on Friday to take on the Hornets (3-0) with the winner gaining the inside track in the race for the Southeastern Conference Red Division title.

Saline leads series 10-8 as the Hornets have taken the last two by scores of 43-0 last season and 49-17 in 2014.

“We can’t turn (the ball) over,” Wood said. Bedford committed three turnovers last week. “They are well-coached and play great defense. We have to have long drives, 12-to-14 plays, to keep our defense off the field.”

Bedford will likely need Wiemer to make a few big plays as he did against Pioneer. He threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to David Jeffers and there was his sideline-to-sideline conversion pass to Caris.

“We practiced that play but never ran it in a game,” Wood said. “They went to a zone, which took away our rub. Wiemer then rolled left, stopped, and threw to Caris, who was the original intended receiver.”

Wiemer’s nickname is ‘the freak’. He’s 6-4 and weighs 215 pounds. He committed to Cincinnati to play baseball and he’s the team’s punter. He also plays in the secondary in passing situations and had an interception against Pioneer. Pick: Saline by 5.

Cleveland St. Ignatius (3-0) at Detroit Catholic Central (3-0): This is the first meeting between these two Midwest giants. C.C. will play four teams outside the state border in the first eight weeks and this one will be its more severe test. Cleveland.com has the Ignatius ranked No. 7 in the state. State Champs! has C.C. ranked No. 2 in our state behind Detroit Cass Tech. Pick: St. Ignatius by 4.

DeWitt (2-1) at Mason (3-0): Since 1995 this is just the third time these teams have met during the regular season. DeWitt leads the series 12-10. After losing to DeWitt, 25-10, during the regular season in 2014 Mason upset the Panthers 30-14 in a division 3 district final. Pick: DeWitt by 7.

Grandville (3-0) at Hudsonville (3-0): Every week the O-K Red Division has one of the state’s marquee matchups. Grandville has rolled up 149 points so far thanks to its full house-T offense. Hudsonville had its hands full with East Kentwood last week and two tough games in a row might be too much to handle. Upset special: Grandville by 2.

Macomb Dakota (2-1) at Warren Mott (3-0): Appearances can be deceiving. The opponents Mott faced in its three games is a step below to the teams Dakota played. Pick: Dakota by 14.

Marine City (0-3) at Marysville (3-0): Marine City has won the last 14 in this series, a series it holds a 40-30 edge in. Pick: Marysville by 4.

Negaunee (3-0) at Iron Mountain (3-0): Negaunee holds a 27-19 edge in the series and has won four of the last five. Iron Mountain ended Ishpeming’s 27-game regular season winning streak in the season opener. Pick: Iron Mountain by 4.

Oak Park (1-2) at Rochester Adams (3-0): After a rather weak schedule to open the season Adams will face the three teams chasing it in the OAA White Division in the next four weeks. Oak Park is desperate for a win. Pick: Oak Park by 4.

Portage Central (3-0) at Traverse City Central (3-0): In a week filled with rivalry games, this will be the first meeting between these teams. The timing is right as Traverse City Central is ranked No. 14 and Portage Central is at No. 20. Pick: T.C. Central by 2.

St. Clair Shores South Lake (3-0) at Warren Fitzgerald (3-0): South Lake has scored 160 points to 163 for Fitzgerald. Since joining the MAC Silver in 2012 South Lake has won three of the last four in this series. Fitzgerald still holds a commanding 14-4 lead in this series. South Lake must contain Fitzgerald running back Najon Moore. Pick: South Lake by 6.